Naples

Tommy Bahama, the restaurant and retail clothing line inspired by the islands, will continue to expand in Florida by opening five new stores in the state this year.

The retailer is opening a 4,400-square-foot retail store inside the Mall at University Town Center on Oct. 16. Tommy Bahama operates a restaurant and small retail store on St. Armands Circle already. Additionally, Tommy Bahama has new locations planned for Naples, Jupiter and St. Petersburg.

Tommy Bahama is known for its relaxed feel and beach-side theme in its clothes and restaurants. It opened its first island location in 1996 in Naples, where it began offering resortware to residents and tourists alike along the Gulf Coast. By the end of the year, the brand will have 20 stores in Florida.

Tommy Bahama will open one restaurant, bare and store concept at Harbourside Place in Jupiter, just north of West Palm Beach, on Nov. 6. The 8,890-square-foot space will connect the restaurant and bar with a retail storefront.

Other retail stores opening this year include two in Naples, which are scheduled to open just weeks between one another and in St. Petersburg, Tommy Bahama will open a 2,605-square-foot store in former Baywalk retail plaza, now called the Sundial. Jackie Z Style & Co., a Sarasota-based boutique that sells men’s and women’s fashions, will also open a store inside the Sundial.

Every new Tommy Bahama store in Florida will open in October.
Tommy Bahama is a subsidary of Oxford Industries, Inc. It began in August 1992 celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. The Seattle-based company has more than 140 retail stores worldwide, with 14 of those offering a Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar.

To see a full list of retailers and restaurants coming to the Mall at University Town Center, click here.

The Herald-Tribune reported reported stores like Apple, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel and others will open in the Mall at University Town Center last year. The 880,000-square-foot retail center will open October 16.

For more shopping news in Southwest Florida, follow reporter Justine Griffin on Twitter and Facebook or email her at justine.griffin@heraldtribune.com. Read What’s In Store in print on Tuesdays.

Robb & Stucky International have officially returned to Sarasota with the grand reopening of its flagship store on Tamiami Trail.

The 68,000-square showroom at 7557 S. Tamiami Trail, is the furniture retailer‘s third and largest store. The store opened on Dec. 2.

The building’s previous tenant, Bacon’s Furniture, relocated to another location across the street earlier this summer.

This is Robb & Stucky’s third store to open since the brand was bought out by a new company. The new owners opened stores in Fort Myers, which debuted in January 2012, and another location in Naples, which opened in January of this year.

“We are proud and happy to be part of the Sarasota community again. In 2014 Robb & Stucky will celebrate its 99th anniversary. And yet, it’s really a whole new day for the company. Over the past two years, Robb & Stucky has been reinvented,” said Steve Lush, president of Robb & Stucky International. ” Of course, we honor the legacies that made Robb & Stucky great. But with new people, new products and new ideas that are in step with how people live today. Every new store breathes new life into the company. Sarasota is just a perfect example. We can’t wait for shoppers to see it. It’s one of the finest furniture stores in the country. Robb & Stucky is back and better than ever.”

The revamped Robb & Stucky brand will focus more on American made products, customization of furniture pieces and offer different price points. For example, sofa prices will range from $999 to $3,000 and up.

Bacon’s sold nearly $5 million in inventory over the summer before moving to its current space across the street. Robb & Stucky spent the fall months renovating the building in preparation for the Dec. 2 opening. The chain partnered with two Sarasota firms for store renovations: DSDG, Inc., and GC: D. L. Porter Constructors.

The new Sarasota store employs 30 people, including designers, customer service associates and delivery experts.

Robb & Stucky, controlled by Taiwan’s Samuel Kuo family, acquired the property for $7.4 million from a unit of General Electric Commercial Business Property Inc. The GE unit had paid $10.5 million in April 2006.

Photo by Elaine Litherland, Herald-Tribune staff.

For more shopping news in Southwest Florida, follow reporter Justine Griffin on Twitter and Facebook or email her at justine.griffin@heraldtribune.com. Read What’s In Store in print on Tuesdays.

Tommy Bahama, which was launched in 1993, will host a 20th anniversary party this weekend at its Sarasota restaurant and store location at 300 John Ringling Blvd., on St. Armand’s Circle. The theme? “Make Life One Long Weekend.”

The party begins on June 28 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. with live music, refreshments and giveaways at the retail stores nationwide, including Sarasota. All 14 of the Tommy Bahama restaurants, like the location on St. Armand’s Circle, will offer a special “island time happy hour” on Friday and a special menu through the weekend.

The menu includes selections from the first Tommy Bahama restaurant, bar and store in Naples, like classic Key West conch fritters, boca chica chicken and a Barbados brownie.

“This is such a milestone for us that we couldn’t let it pass without thanking our loyal guests for their support,” says Rob Goldberg, senior vice president of marketing for Tommy Bahama, in a statement. “A party seems like the perfect way to celebrate our 20th anniversary – music, fun and gifts at all of our retail locations and special food and drink menus at our restaurant and bars.”

For more shopping news in Southwest Florida, follow reporter Justine Griffin on Twitter and Facebook or email her at justine.griffin@heraldtribune.com. Read What’s In Store in print on Tuesdays.